Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 2).djvu/280



Middle of XIIIth century

After Stothard

Early XIVth century

A monster-man armed with sword and small buckler. Collection: Author.

splendid pageant shield which was formerly one of the chief treasures of the Edward Cheney Collection of Badger Hall, but is now in a private collection in Venice. This last mentioned shield is composed of wood heavy in construction overlaid with hide and gesso; the decoration is in the strongest relief. Here one sees the wooden shield of the knight in the final form which such a shield assumed in the closing years of the XVth century. It is kite-shaped, forty-six inches high, curved almost to exaggeration, and concave to the body. On the exterior, modelled in the manner which is associated with Antonio Pollaiuolo, is the figure of Milo of Crotona rending the oak. The figure is gilt upon a black ground, on one side of which are painted the arms of the Montauo family. The border has a double cabled pattern edge, between the cables of which runs the following inscription:—